“Out of Sight Storage”, nothing quite lives up to this description like a Storage unit, but there are other places you might be storing extra stuff. You might have asked yourself, Is there ever a good excuse for storing extra stuff? How can you prevent your out-of-sight storage from becoming a large junk pile? Below, I share some of the “good excuses” for storing extra stuff.

An estimated one in three Americans rents a storage unit. Of these renters, the majority are currently Baby Boomers, with a projected 50% of Gen Z planning to use them in the future. 

So WHY are we storing so much stuff?

More and more storage facilities are popping up. With the popularity of shows like “Storage Wars“, our culture seems to have accepted that using storage units is “normal”.

Do we really need all this stuff or has our level of consumption outpaced our housing?

There are new trends in storing extra stuff, including shared spaces in people’s homes and a “on demand” storage companies that will drop off and retrieve storage, and even barcode items so you can get back only what you need, when you need them. Of course, these premium services come with premium prices!

I love the flexibility of both of these options, especially for short-term storage, or when downsizing to retirement communities (many of which have very little storage). There are definitely times that having some out-of-sight storage has been valuable and other times when it seems like a big $ pit.

When faced with inherited items or an eminent downsize, Americans are highly reluctant to part with their things. There is a lot of FOMO going on here, but not much evidence that people actually need or use the stuff they pay to store. There are instances when storage make a lot of sense and I will review those “good excuses” in this post.

In all circumstances, please review your insurance policies to be sure your contents of storage are covered adequately.

Here are the 7 top ‘Good Excuses’ for Storing Extra Stuff

1. Storing valuable personal property that might not be protected at home. Examples include extensive collections of climate-sensitive items. This may be expensive jewelry, vehicles, or other collectibles, that might be safer in climate-controlled off-site storage. This type of storage could range from a safe deposit box to an off-site garage.
2. Home remodeling. It’s often necessary to store items when remodeling or building. In this case, make items you might need easy to access. Building and remodeling can take longer than expected, so plan (seasonal wardrobe switch, paperwork, etc.).
3. Collections or work-related archives that you need to hold onto but do not have space for at your home or small business. Examples include artwork, medical or legal files/records, or other paperwork that is taking up valuable space elsewhere.
4. Temporary storage of items when relocating. This can be especially helpful if items are being moved to multiple locations. It also makes moving day easier when you specify what comes from storage vs. other locations. This may be necessary if you or someone in your family lives in college housing and goes “home” for the summer, but needs to store stuff near school.
5. Downsizing and times of indecision or stress. I share this option with extreme caution. Often, people fall into the forever-storage situation triggered by a move or downsizing. After the move they never get to sorting through their things. If you downsize and place items to be sorted in storage, do so with the minimum space needed. Have a plan to sort through items on a specific timeline (say one year max?). I’ve seen this work very successfully and I’ve seen the ambition be greater than the motivation to eliminate the storage.
6. Estate sales and family redistribution. There are times when a storage unit can help sort through and liquidate an estate. Sometimes, the family doesn’t live nearby, and the main property can no longer be used for storage. It’s best to know specifically what contents are going into storage. Have the estate inventoried for distribution to specific family members, and set a particular deadline. Decide in advance whether the family estate will pay for this or whether family members will split the cost. Be clear in your communication about expectations.
7. Insurance claim issues. There is sometimes damage to a house, and contents must be stored and or inventoried for insurance purposes. This is uncommon, but I have seen and worked with clients in this situation.

If you’re not sure whether off-site storage is the right choice, consider the cost per square foot of storage vs. keeping things in place. You may also want to consider what you will do with the free space you gain. What is the value of that space to you, fiscally, creatively, emotionally?

Once you have identified why you will be storing extra stuff, create an inventory and system for efficient storage. This can be a spreadsheet or a simple set of photos and list! Labeling items in storage is also essential and can correspond with an inventory or you can place a simple one-page inventory within the bins. A simple inventory will help you quickly and efficiently access what you need. If you are storing items for a business, create a file-inventory index based on the type of storage you will use. If you will store files in bankers’ boxes, decide on a labeling system and label the boxes and shelves so you can identify and replace items easily. Larger items, such as artwork, collectibles, or furnishings, can be labeled similarly.

If you’re renting storage space, create an easy-to-access system by bringing in easy-to-assemble shelves. Make use of the vertical space and tall ceilings in most storage units. Store anything sensitive in a climate-controlled environment. Be certain you have sufficient insurance and make regular payments to the storage facility (so that your unit doesn’t end up on Storage Wars!:)

If you know you are using a storage unit temporarily, don’t sign a long-term contract. Be aware of and notify your storage facility of your exit date (read the contract). Will you be getting rid of things all at once (book the mover early so you don’t back out!) or a little at a time? Have a plan to work through things that need sorting with a friend, family member, or an organizer.